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New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2906, 22 May 1873, Page 2

The telegrams which appear under the head of " Native Affairs," received from our special correspondents at Hamilton, Cambridge, Alexandra, Newcastle, Tauranga, Wellington and elsewhere, will convey a very fair idea of the Btate of affairs in the up-country sattlements. Our correspondent's full letter from Alexandra will also be read with much interest. We have been at no small pains in obtaining the fullest, latest, and most accurate intelligence upon a matter which is occupying the minds of all men throughout the length and breadth of the whole of the North Island. It will be seen, we think, that the powers at Wellington have not been inactive, and that they are preparing themselves against any emergency which may arise. The settlers in the disturbed districts expresß themselves well satisfied at what is being done. Large quantities of ammunition and arms have been forwarded to Newcastle; men are being enlisted for the Armed Constabulary ; settlers are joining the Cavalry Force, and much determination and spirit is evinced in all connected 'with the present difficulty. The hostile Maoris scarcely contemplated the prompt measures which have been taken to keep them in check.

On the 15th inst-.nt was published in our columns a very complete authorised statement of the Austra'iun Mutual Provident Society, showing that the balance in favor of the society, after writing off every loss and liability, amounted on 28th February, 1873, to £1,133,005 19s. Bd. This is a large sum for a colonial assurance institution ; but its ramifications penetrate into so many districts throughout so many of our rich colonies, and its business has been so extensive, and appears to have been conducted upon such sound principles, that no doubt what would seem to be such an unnecessarily large capital is really required for the liberal working of its numerous branches. We can only wish the institution all the success the objects it endeavours to subserve justly entitles it to.

Mr. Cooper, of Wellington, has succeeded in obtaining from the natives at Poverty Bay a lease of the oil springs for a term of twentyone years. The springs, it is stated, cover an area of 6500 acres, and the number of them may be reckoned at close upon one hundred. The most sanguine expectations are formed as to the richness and jreat value of the»o springs. We further learn that Mr. Cooper purposes visiting Auckland some time inside of a fortnight, with a view of forming a company to carry out the works in a proper manner. Thus, should the expectations of the lessee be fulfilled as is very probable, there will be added to our present prolific resources another which, in America, has made a comparatively barren portion of a great continent one of the richest in the world.

We desire to draw special attention to a meeting, which is called for 4 o'clock this afternoon, in the Mechanics' Institute, the object of which is to devise the best means for establishing a Refuge for tho Destitute. We fear that the hour iwmed is not so convenient as if it hadis» x ''••for the evening, when those whose ocoupavfcxi does not cease at so early a period of the day would have been able to have given their attendance, and by their voices have helped in pleading for so excellent a cause. A bare glance at our police reports from day to day is sufficient to show the very urgent need there is for a Refuge such as it is proposed to establish, if the public will only respond to the call of the benevolent promoters.

An adjourned meeting of the members of the Auckland Domain Board was held yesterday, when n long discussion took place on the question of tho Domain water supply. The sub-committee appointed to consider the question of leasing the water to the Provincial Government brought up a report, with a recommendation that the water should be leased at £100 per annum for a term of five years. Cons derable discussion ensued, and ultimately tbta question was adjourned for a fortnight. A report of the proceedings will be found in another place.

In the paragraph in yesterday's issue, relative to the meeting of the executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, we omitted to state that a proposal was submitted to the committee for the formation of another class in connection with the Institution, viz., one for architectural and mechanical drawing, and which subscribers would be enabled to join for a nominal sum. The matter was referred to a sub-committee to make the necessary inquiries, and report at next meeting of committee.

The fifth annual meeting of the Auckland Institute was held last evening. There was a good attendance of members. The report and balance-sheet for the year were read and adopted. Mr. T. B. Gillies was elected president for the year. The following gentlemen were elected a committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs. J. Slatter, W. Scott, W. Hannaford, E. Thouias, H. M. W. J. Cawkwell, A. Cox, C. B. Knorrp, C.E. ; C. Tothill (auditor). The report of the proceedings will be found in another column.

His Honor Mr. Justice Johnßton sat in banco yesterday. The principal case argued was tho rule for a new trial in the Buit Graham v. Thomas. Mr. MacCormick, in support of the rule, had sot concluded his argument when the Court rose Mr. Rees asked His Honor when he would giTe judgment in the case Harris r. Jlacfarlane. His Honor said he had prepared his judgment, and asked the learned counsel to mention the subject next sitting (this day).

The mw Zealand Gazette calls the special attention of all persona concerned in the management of Joint Slock Companies to those provisions of « The Joint Stock Compan.es Act, I860," which require that notices ot proceedings m certain cases be given to the Registrars of Joint Stock Companies, and to the penalties incurred by neglect. Se;. 18 of the Act provides than an annual list «.f Bhare. holders shall be prepared on a specified day containing a -summary of the particulars mentioned in the section referred to. and ac. cording to the form given in schedule £ This list and summary are to be completed and forwarded to the registrar; and in default sec. 19 prescribes a penalty not exceeding £5 for every day during which the default continues. Sec. 76 provides that a copv of aa order of Court r.._di D g up a company shall forthwith be reported to the Re«istrar Sec 103 requires that orders of Court for dissolu.' tion ot companies shall be reported by the official liquidators to the registrar. Sec 109 (sub-sec. 11) provides that where a com-' I panj- is wound up voluntarily, the liquidators shali make a :.-Urn to the registrar of the resolution there mentioned. And Sec. 123 prescribes a penalty 011 liquidators not reporting dissolution of companies to the registrar, not exceeding £5 for every day they are in default. Other notices are required to ba given to registrars by the above-mentioned Act, of which may be mentioned : Notices as to situation or change of the registered office of the company. (Sees. 34 and 35.) Notices of special resolutions altering the regulations of the company. (Sec. 41.) Notices of increase of capital. (Sec. 43.) And for breach of these provisions pecuniary penalties ara prescribed in each one.

The "Wellington Evening Post of the 16tb is 0 very long leader upon the present potii iion of native affairs, remarks as follows: The Government is evidently undecided how to deal with the difficulty arising out of Snllivan's murder. The native policy hitherto pursued by Mr. Al'Lean has been to buy peace or to yield to the King party when they have proved stubborn, and thanks to the mystery in which tho transactions between the Native Department and the Maoris have been shrouded, unfavourable comment on the part of the Press and of the European settlers has been to a great extent avoided. Now, however, a deed has been done in the broad light of day which has shocked the whole colony, and reTealed to it, in letters of blood, that the peace for which it has paid so dearly is no peace at nil, but a mere curtain hiding the instrument!! of war. It is a dreadful fact, thrust before the eyes of the Government, and presenting to it a problem not to be solved by the ordinary means adopted to pacify turbulent natives.

The Governor has appointed Wiremu Jlatene Te Huaki and Wikiriwhi Te Tuahu to ba Assessors for the purposes of the liesident Magistrates Act, 1567, the Native Circuit Courts Act, 1858, and the Native Circuit Courts Act Amendment Act, 1862, within the district of Taurangu. Also, Timoti Puhipi, of Pukepoto ; Waka Kangaunu, of ligatotoete j Kingi Wiremu, of Ahipara ; and Heihana Kiriwi, of Parapara, to be Assessors under tha Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act, IS7O, for the district of Mongonui. The appointments take effect from the Ist April, 1873. We understand that the distribution of prizes at the Orphan Home, Parnell, will take place to-morrow (Friday), at 3.30 p.m. These prizes were granted by the Board of Management, and they will bo presented by the Bishop of Auckland The Rev. C. M. Nelson, M.A. (Incumbent of St. Paul's), and J. .Adams, Esq., 8.A., (Head Master of the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell,) the examiners, expressed themselves satisfied with the proficiency shown by the children. Yesterday, the Revising Officer, Loughlia O'Brien, Esq., was ongnged in heariug objections made by the Returning Officer against the names on the roll for the City of Auckland East. The great majority of the objections were taken upon the ground of death or removal from the district, and in some cases thp.t the name occurred twice on the roll. Several voters defended their votes, and the objections were withdrawn. The manufacture of bone dust manure is one of the industries of Wellington. The butchers' shops, the eating houses, and other establishments in the city where collections o£ barebones are to be found, are visited periodically by carts from the bone mills, where the otherwise useless rubbish is pulverised by steam and transformed into the most valuable kind of manure. A largely-attended meeting of the South British Insurance Company was held yesterday afternoon. The directors' half-yearly report and the balance sheet, were adopted, and auditors appointed for the ensuing halfyear. A full report of the meeting may be seen elsewhere. The Timaru Herald says : —" Messrs. Hayes and McLennan haTe made arrangements with the manager of tha Coldstream Drainage Works to cut ditches amounting in length 11 about eighty miles, being equal to the exoavation of about 400,000 cable yards of earth." Intelligence reached us la6t night of a very valuable and accessible discovery of coal at Mangawai. The coal is stated to be of excellent quality, the vein very wide, and nothing to prevent it being worked extensively, and a the most economical manner. Fresh tenders are invited for the supply of about 200,000 cubic feet of the heart of kauri or totara, to be delivered to the liniaru and Gladstone Board of Works. Specifications may bo seen at the Provincial Secretary s Office, Aueklaud. The Board of Examiners will examiue candidates, in navigation and seamanship, at the Harbour Board room®, on the following days: —In navigation, on Tues lay, 27th instant; and in seamanship on Wednesday, —Stli inst., at 10 o'clock a.m. Lottie and the Magnet Company will shortly pay Auckland another visit, and perform for a short season. The company .3 a present in Napier, •> itii Mr. Joe Small as their agtrit. They may be expected in Auckland in about a fortnight. The prizes to the scholars of the Auckland College and Grammar School will be prc=en e by his Honor the Superintendent, at 3 Choral Hall, at half-past two o'clock to-mor-row afternoon. The public are invited to 9 present. The usual meeting of the City Improvement Commissioners took place yesterday afternoon —his Worship tho Mayor in the cnf"' * good deal of business was done, of winch 3 - tailed report will be found elsewhere. Wo learn that no small difficulty is being experienced by Messrs. Brogdeuo agen the colony in recovering from their luipo immigrants the amounts duo to t em money advanced, passages, and outfit. The following appears in the Melbourne Jft of a late issue Liardet.—At her Svranga Lodge, Richmond, the wife 0 F'redk. Evelyn Liardet, of twin daugnten. Father delighted."—[We should think so. J Convenient locomotion is provided lington at the rate of 3d per mile, t a - the rate charged by the omnibuses from one extremity of the city to tue The Provincial Council of Taranaki « voted the munificent sum of £20 for the p pose of supplying the rivers of that p with trout. A New Zealand Gazette under date May 9, publishes the nameo whole districts of the colony wind', are into vaccination districts. His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston wi « this morning, at the Supreme oouf. Banco and Bankruptcy cases. A STew Zealand Gazette of the i3th f announces the further prorogation o House of Representatives to the sth pr A large quantity c-f salmon ova h« introduced into Southland, which is turn out successful. , A woman named Ryan yas in the .cf last evening on a charge of iteahng t boots.

The llnuke's Say Herald Bays that the Scandinavians at the Norsewood and Danevirk settlements are now picking up on aptitude for bush work very much more rapidly and satisfactorily than it waa some short time ago believed that they would be able to do. Their greatest failing, it is said, ; 3 that they are such spendthrifts. When they Ami themselves iu possession of a ten-pound note, a circumstance not uncommon now -a - days, instead of paying their debts wilh it, or putting it by for a rainy day, they start off forthwith to invest it in live stock of the most singular description. The idea of possessing a horse has a fascination for them quite beyond their powers of resistance.

We notice that Messrs. Brogden and Sons have been beaten in their tender for the Winton-Kingstou railway by a provincial firm. Messrs. Brogdens' tender, when opened, was found to be £17,000, as against Mr. Watson's for £13,000, the latter, of course, being accepted. The next lowest tender was also by a provincial firm, Messrs. Campbell tendering for £14,000. Local tenderers possess many advantages, which enable them to compete successfully against foreign firms, such as having their workshops, plant, and much of their material nearer to the scene of operations. It is satisfactory to learn that tho Mokau natives (says the Taranaki Ihrald) are not likely in any to mix with the Waikato natives should any embroilment take place. Letters, we believe, have been sent to Mr. Parris, stating that whatever may bo the result of the 'Waikato affair, the Europeans need not fear that it will in any way affect this district. Manuka, once the champion of the New Zealand turf, and latterly one of the sires located at the Maribyrnong stud, will, in all probability, change his quarters before the commencement of next season, Mr. Petty bavins had several offers from persons anxious to secure the horse, among them one from the land of the horse's birth, New Zealand. An es?ay has been read at Arbroath, by A. T. Forbes, on New Zealand and its productions. A photographic room and herbarium are being added to the Colonial Miuetim. The Waikato Steam Navigation Company give notice their advertised rates of freight to Waikato will be doubled on all goods shipped by ouUide carriers, but that their wag«ons are prepared to carry gjods at the advertised rates. A meeting of the shareholders of the American Eagle G.M. Co. is convened for the 13th of Juae. A call of 9d per share has been made in this company ; and a notice in reference to the forfeiture of certain shares appears in our advertising columns. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholder; of the Lincoln Castle Gold Mining Company is convened for the ISth Juue next. The application share-list of the Albion Coal Company will be closed for Auckland at noon on Saturday. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Ravenstock Gold Mining Company will be held on the 30th instant. It will be seen by advertisement that Messrs. Vickers and Davies have removed to •16, Queen-street.